Bottle Holder

ABSTRACT

A bottle holder that is designed to hold a single bottle, yet is easily assemblable with additional bottle holders according to the invention to a multi-bottle drying station that has the appearance of a single unit.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION Field of the Invention

The invention relates to the field of bottle holders. More particularly,the invention relates to bottle holders that can be used individually orassembled together to form a drying station for multiple bottles.

Discussion of the Prior Art

Bottle holders hold one or more bottles in an upside down orientation,allowing liquid to drain from the bottle and the bottle to dry in theair. Conventional bottle holders are commercially available. Forexample, the website “www.amazon.de” currently offers bottle holderswith the trade names “SodaClean”, “King Do Way”, and “Ecooe”. Each ofthese bottle holders is constructed from a sheet of stainless steel thathas been formed into an upside down U shape that is open at the bottom.The top of the U-shaped construction typically has a plurality ofopenings in it, each opening designed to receive a bottle. The loweredges of the two legs of the upside U are bent inward to form a narrowflat strip along the length of each side of the bottle holder, so thatthe construction now has more of a C-shape. The two strips serve as thebase of the bottle holder. A removable drip tray is placed on the twostrips, thereby providing a surface that extends across the open area atthe base of the bottle holder that collects any liquid that drains fromthe bottle(s).

Conventional bottle holders are typically constructed to hold three orfour bottles. Thus, these bottle holders have dimensions to accommodatethe number of bottles for which it is designed. Depending on the numberof bottles used in a household or in commercial facilities, larger orsmaller bottles holders may be desirable. For example, a single-personhousehold hold desire a bottle holder that accommodates a single but andmay find most commercially available holders to large, too bulky. Butthen, even a single-person household may occasionally wish to have alarger bottle holder, for example, when hosting guests or visitors.Other households may prefer larger holders, for example, bottle holdersthat accommodate five or perhaps even more bottles.

It is, of course, possible to create larger drying stations by settingup two or more free-standing bottle holders on the countertop. But thismay appear unseemly, messy.

That is needed is a bottle holder that is dimensioned just large enoughto hold a single bottle. What is further needed is a bottle holder thatcan be easily joined with another bottle holder of the same type,providing greater flexibility in creating a drying station that isappropriate to the user's specific needs.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to provide a bottle holder that allowsa user to quickly and easily construct a drying station that canaccommodate any number of bottles, yet still provide an orderlyappearance.

The object is achieved by a bottle holder according to the inventionthat allows a plurality of such bottle holders to be quickly and easilyassembled to a modular drying station. The bottle holder according tothe invention is constructed to hold a single bottle. It is formed fromsheet metal blank and is substantially cubic in shape, having an upperface, sidewalls that extend downward on two opposing sides to formsidewalls, with a lower section of the sidewalls bent inward to form abase that allows the bottle holder to stand upright on a flat surface.The remaining two opposing sides remain open.

The upper face is rectangular in shape. The two edges that transitioninto the sidewalls are hereinafter referred to as ‘closed edges,’ andtwo edges that define the upper limit of the open sides are hereinafterreferred to as ‘open edges.’ The two open edges are formed withcomplementary curves, i.e., one of the open edges has a convex curvethat projects slightly beyond the dimension defined by the straightsidewalls and the other open edge has a concave curve. If two bottleholders according to the invention are placed next to each other, theconvex curve of one bottle holder will fit neatly against the concavecurve of the adjacent bottle holder, thereby forming a modular unit.

This allows a modular assembly of any number of bottle holders, in orderto achieve a multi-bottle drying station that accommodates the desirednumber of bottles. This modular assembly provides great flexibility inorganizing a drying station is readily expandable/shrinkable, dependingon the number of bottles that are washed and then need to dry. Thus, ifa user needs a drying station for a single bottle, it is not desirableto have a bottle holder that holds multiple bottles and, thus, hasunnecessarily large dimensions for the user's intended use, taking upspace on a countertop that could well be used for other purposes.Nevertheless, a single-person household may have visitors and onoccasion need to dry multiple bottles. The bottle holder according tothe invention allows a user to assemble a larger than usual dryingstation on short notice, simply by assembling multiple bottle holders.Conversely, it is a simple matter to dismantle a large drying station byremoving the bottle holders that are no longer needed. Due to theform-fit construction, adjacent bottle holders that are properly fittedagainst each other give the appearance of a single, neat unit that isaesthetically more attractive than that of a provisional collection ofbottle holders.

One possible construction of the bottle holder according to theinvention that provides the desired form-fit assembly is to have therecess on the one open edge dimensioned such, that it is large enough toaccommodate two separate projections on the other open edge of anadjacent bottle holder, so that the two adjacent bottle holders areprecisely aligned, without play. The two open edges, however, may havecomplementary profiles, so that the open edges on the upper faces ofadjacent bottle holders fit against each other seamlessly, i.e., withouta gap. This construction is particularly advantageous, because not onlydoes the complementary profiles on the upper face provide anaesthetically attractive appearance and a smooth fit when adjacentbottle holders interlock with each other, but in terms of productiontechnology, cutting multiple blanks having complementary contours from ametal sheet also reduces the amount of waste to a minimum.

In addition to the form-fit construction, a connecting element may alsoused, to ensure that adjacent bottle holders according to the inventionremain properly aligned. The connecting element may be provided on atleast one sidewall, on the base, or in a corner where a sidewalltransitions to the base, and preferably, in close proximity to an openside of the bottle holder and configured such, that it engages with anadjacent bottle holder and holds the two bottle holders together.

The connecting element may be constructed as a U-shaped clip thatengages abutting sidewalls of adjacent bottle holders. Two connectingelements may be constructed as projections that extend into recesses onan adjacent bottle holder, thereby bringing the two adjacent bottleholders in flush alignment with each other. The connecting element mayalso be configured as a magnet. A magnetic connecting element has theadvantage over other types of connectors in that a magnetic connectionis able to hold adjacent bottle holders in the desired orientation,without any disturbing protrusions beyond the dimensions of the bottleholder. In addition, magnets make aligning adjacent bottle holdersparticularly easy, because the user does not have to bring the holdersin exact alignment, rather, properly mounted magnets ensure that themagnetic force automatically pulls the holders into proper alignment asthe two bottle holders come closer to each other.

One or more magnets may be provided as connecting elements on a sidewallor base of the bottle holder, in close proximity to an open side, suchthat the magnetic force engages directly with the sidewall or base ofthe adjacent bottle holder, assuming the two bottle holders are made ofa ferromagnetic material, such as sheet steel. Alternatively, magneticconnecting elements may be provided at both open sides of the bottleholders, so that the magnets do not merely engage with the adjacentsurface, but rather, also interact cooperatively with the magnet on theadjacent bottle holder. This ensures a particularly precise and securealignment of the two bottle holders, so that the sidewalls or, dependingon where the magnetic elements are placed, the bases of the two holdersare held snugly against each other, forming a close contact.

This ability to assemble practically any number bottle holders to amulti-bottle modular drying station provides great flexibility. Such amodular drying station comprising a plurality of bottle holdersaccording to the invention means that the capacity of the drying stationmay be quickly and easily adapted to the needs of a changing situation,simply by adding or removing bottle holders, and without requiring theuse of tools.

Construction of the bottle holder according to the invention ismechanically simple. The upper face, the sidewalls, and the base may beformed from a blank that is single sheet of material. For example, alargely rectangular blank may be cut in a water jet or laser cuttingprocess or stamped from sheet material, whereby the contours of theupper face of the bottle holder deviate from a strictly rectangularform, because of the curved profiles of the two open edges. The openingfor the bottle may also be cut or stamped out when the blank is created.This method of producing the bottle holder from a single sheet ofmaterial is not only cost-effective, it also avoids welds or othermethods of adjoining components, so that the surfaces of the bottleholder where there is a change in geometry remain smooth, which isadvantageous with regard to hygiene.

The method of producing the bottle holder from a single blank alsoallows score lines, i.e., grooves or perforations, to be provided incertain areas of the blank, that then allow the blank to be bent to thedesired shape without requiring special mechanical means. A blankprepared for bending or folding in this way allows a bottle holder kitto be shipped relatively inexpensively as a flat package, whereby theuser then folds the blank to the bottle holder shape. The scoring on theblank allows even laypersons to fold the blank into the proper shape,because not much force is required to bend the blank. Furthermore, thescoring ensures that the blank bends at the desired locations to achievethe proper shape.

In contrast to the conventional stainless steel bottle holders, thebottle holder according to the invention is made from sheet steel thathas an anti-corrosion coating. Stainless steel is typically notmagnetic. The use of conventional, ferromagnetic sheet steel as thematerial for the bottle holder according to the invention has a coupleof advantages. For one, it is less expensive than high-grade stainlesssteel, and for another, ferromagnetic steel allows the use of magnets asconnecting elements to hold adjacent bottle holders together.

A kit for a bottle holder according to the invention includes a driptray that sits on the base of the bottle holder. The drip tray serves tocollect liquid that drains from washed bottles. The tray may be made ofan absorbent material, such as a foam or non-woven fleece. A morehygienic construction, however, is a drip tray made of a non-absorbentmaterial with a closed surface, such as a rubber mat. A raisedperipheral rim allows the drip tray to securely contain the liquid.Providing a relief pattern or a profile on the upper surface of the driptray ensures that liquid can drain from the bottle onto the tray. Also,when the mouth of the bottle is not suspended some distance above thesurface of the drip tray, but instead rests directly on the drip tray,the relief pattern allows airflow in the bottle, thereby facilitatingdrying. There are many suitable means of profiling the upper surface ofthe drip tray, such as nubs, ribs, etc., or even a relief pattern thatrepresents a logo.

The connecting elements previously mentioned, i.e., magnets, are bestprovided in a lower area of the bottle holder. The curved profiles ofthe upper face of the bottle holder serve to held adjacent bottleholders together at the top, and the connecting elements in an area ator near the base of the bottle holder serve to secure the sidewalls andbases of adjacent bottle holders in proper alignment. Neodymium magnetshave such high holding power that magnets with just a 1 to 2 mm diameterprovide sufficient force to securely hold adjacent bottle holderstogether. Such small magnets may be adhesively affixed in the cornerswhere sidewall and base meet, in close proximity to the open side. Giventhat a drip tray is used with the bottle holder, it may be desirable toconceal the magnets beneath the tray for aesthetic reasons. And even ifthese magnets are visible, it is possible to place them in an opticallyunobtrusive location.

These connecting elements may also be used as stops to preventdisplacement of the drip tray. Thus, a drip tray that is smaller thanthe inside dimensions of the bottle holder may be held in place by theconnecting elements.

It is foreseeable, that bottles will repeatedly be inserted into andwithdrawn from the opening in the upper face and that this may scratchor cause the coating to flake off of the metal material. For thisreason, a protective ring made of elastomeric material or other suitablematerials may be fitted around the opening in a manner known per se.

If the bottle holder is produced by bending the blank to form thesidewalls and then a base section at the end of each sidewall, thenthere is a gap, a separation line, between the two base sections. Due tothe rigidity of a suitable material, e.g. sheet steel, even with thisgap, the bottle holder will stand securely on a flat surface.Nevertheless, the base sections may be dimensioned such, that the gap atthe separation line is quite narrow, i.e., the two base sections almostabut one another. The fact that the base covers most of the surface atthe bottom of the bottle holder also means that more weight is added atthe base level, and this provides for greater stability because itlowers the center of gravity of the bottle holder. Ideally, then, thebase sections are dimensioned such, that they almost about each other,thereby keeping the separation gap as narrow as possible. It is, ofcourse, possible, to spot weld the two base sections together at one ormore points, to prevent the separation gap from spreading apart.

One or more protective elements may be provided on the underside of thebottle holder base, to prevent any protective coating from beingscratched or rubbed off, particularly an anti-corrosion coating. Damageto the coating could result in corrosion of the bottle holder or rustspots being deposited on the underlying surface on which the holder isplace. These protective elements also protect the underlying surfacefrom scratches. Examples of suitable materials for the protectiveelements include elastomeric materials and felt and fleece materials.The protective element(s) may be a large-area element or small knobs,pads, or buttons that are adhesively affixed to the underside, or theymay be small ‘feet’ that are captively held in openings that areprovided in the base.

In another embodiment, the drip tray may have protrusions that extenddown through openings that are provided in the base and serve as theprotective elements. In this case, the drip tray also serves to bridgethe separation gap in the base and to prevent the two base sections fromspreading apart. The openings in the base may be provided as boresthrough the base sections, i.e., are surrounded by the material thatforms the base, but they can also be provided as recesses at the edgesof the base, i.e., recesses cut or stamped into the part of the blankthat will form the base.

The bottle holder according to the invention allows multiple bottleholders to be assembled into a modular bottle drying station. Thepositive fit of adjacent bottle holders provides a drying station thathas a neat and orderly appearance. The anti-corrosion coating on thesheet steel may be provided as a paint finish or a powder coating andbottle holders may be provided in a variety of colors and finishes.Thus, a drying station may be assembled from bottle holders in the coloror colors a user desires, thereby creating a visually attractive dryingstation that fits in with the user's décor.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is described with reference to the accompanyingdrawings. In the drawings, like reference numbers indicate identical orfunctionally similar elements.

FIG. 1 is a first perspective view of a bottle holder according to theinvention that illustrates the construction of the upper face with anopening to receive a bottle, two closed sides, open sides, and theform-fit curved profiles of the open edges on the upper face.

FIG. 2 is a second perspective view of the bottle holder, showing thebottle holder from the side opposite the view of FIG. 1 .

FIG. 3 is a bottom perspective view of the bottle holder, illustratingprotective elements.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a modular assembly of bottle holders toa multi-bottle drying station.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention will now be described more fully in detail withreference to the accompanying drawings, in which the preferredembodiments of the invention are shown. This invention should not,however, be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein;rather, they are provided so that this disclosure will be complete andwill fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in theart.

FIGS. 1 to 3 show perspective views of a bottle holder 1 according tothe invention, which is formed by bending flat sheet metal into an opencubic shape that has an upper face 2, two opposing sidewalls 3, and abase 4 that is formed from two base sections 5, each one extendinginward from a lower end of the respective sidewalls 3 and almost meetingat a separation gap 6 that extends down the center of the bottle holder1. The remaining two sides of the cube are open sides 9. An opening 7for receiving a bottlel is provided in the upper face 2. In theembodiment shown, the opening 7 is constructed as a circular opening andis fitted with a protective ring 8. The sheet metal used for the bottleholder 1 is a sheet of power-coated steel and the protective ring 8 ismade of an elastomer.

As can be seen in the FIGS. 1 to 3 , the bottle holder according to theinvention is dimensioned to accommodate a single bottle and the overallwidth and length dimensions are just slightly greater than the diameterof the opening 7, so that the bottle holder does not unnecessarily takeup space. The open sides 9 ensure good ventilation, which facilitatesdrying. A drip tray 11 with a raised outer rim 15 is placed on the base4. The drip tray 11 serves to collect liquid that drains from thebottle. Depending on the shape and size of the bottle, the bottle holder1 holds the bottle in an upside down orientation and, preferably, theheight dimension of the bottle holder 1 is dimensioned to allow themouth of the bottle to be suspended some distance above the drip tray11, which provides for optimal ventilation and facilitates drying of theinside of the bottle. Bottles that are narrower than the opening 7 willslide down through the opening 7 until the mouth of the bottle touchesthe drip tray 11. In this case, the bottle holder 1 prevents the bottlefrom tipping over. The drip tray 11 is profiled, so that even when themouth of the bottle is in contact with the tray, there is still someventilation. In the embodiment shown, the relief pattern on the driptray 11 is formed from several raised letters.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a modular assembly 1A of multiple bottleholders 1. As can be seen in all of the figures, the upper face 2 of thebottle holder 1 has two closed edges, where the upper face 2 transitionsto the sidewalls 3, and has two open edges 10. These two open edges 10have complementary profiles, a first open edge 10A having a protrusionand a second open edge 10B having a recess that precisely fits againstthe protrusion. And more particularly, in the embodiment shown, thefirst open edge 10A has a convex curve and a second open edge 10B has aconvex curve, whereby the two curves have the same radius of curvature,i.e., are complementary to each other. These curved open edges 10 allowmultiple bottle holders 1 to be assembled to a modular unit 1Acomprising multiple bottle holders 1. The convex open edge 10A protrudesslightly beyond the overall dimensions of the upper face 2 and fitsneatly against the concave open edge 10B, as is shown in FIG. 4 ,allowing adjacent bottle holders 1 to fit together smoothly and withoutany gap. The complementary profiles of the open edges 10 also provide aneconomic benefit: when blanks for the bottle holder 1 are cut or stampedfrom sheet metal, there is no waste.

Connecting elements 12 may be provided in the bottom corners, where thesidewalls 3 transition to the base sections 5. In the embodiment shown,the connecting elements 12 are magnetic elements that hold the lowerarea of adjacent bottle holders 1 together and are placed in closeproximity to the open sides. Thus, the upper faces 2 of two adjacentbottle holders 1 are held together via the form-fit profiles of the openedges and the lower areas secured against displacement by the magneticconnecting elements 12.

Magnets serve as effective connection elements 12 because of thematerial that is used to form the bottle holder 1, namely ferromagneticsheet steel. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 , a connectingelement 12 is placed in each corner of the bottle holder 1. It is alsopossible to place such magnetic connecting elements 12 only on one openside 9, because the magnet also acts on the sheet steel of an adjacentbottle holder 1. A particularly reliable hold is achieved in theillustrated embodiment, because magnetic connecting elements 12 arearranged in the corners at both open sides 9, whereby the polarity ofthe the elements 12 is complementary to the elements on the respectiveother open side 9, so that two magnets on adjacent bottle holders 1 aredrawn toward each other, thereby increasing the magnetic force that hodsthe bottle holders 1 together.

FIG. 3 is a bottom perspective view of the bottle holder 1 according tothe invention, which illustrates, among other things, the separation gap6. In the embodiment shown, the two base sections 5 do not abut eachother—rather, there is a gap 6 between the two sections 5. It isunderstood, however, that the two base sections could actually abut oneanother to form a zero-joint. It is also possible to bridge theseparation gap 6 and connect the two base sections 5 to each other, forexample, by means of spot welds. And it is also be understood that theseparation gap 6 does not have to extend along a centerline of thebottle holder 1. It is certainly possible, that the base sections 5differ in their width dimensions, so that the separation gap 6 is offsetfrom a centerline. It is also possible that the base sections 5 have azigzag or curved profile, so that the two base sections 5 engage eachother in a form-fit way that prevents a displacement of the two basesections 6 along the separation gap 6, which could result in a twistedalignment of the bottle holder 1.

Also shown in FIG. 3 are protective elements 16. In the embodimentshown, the protective elements 16 are self-adhesive knobs or feet, madeof an elastomeric material, on the underside of the base 4. In anotherembodiment, the protective elements 16 may be constructed as downwardprotruding elements provided on the drip tray 11 that extend throughbores in the base 4. This has an advantage over adhesively affixedprotective elements, because the adhesive strength could diminish undercertain conditions, for example, due to high temperatures in adishwasher. Alternatively, the protective elements 16 may also be ascontoured elements having a middle section that is narrower than its twoends. These contoured element are then held in place in the base 4 byforcing them into holes in the base 4, so that the elements remain heldin the hole at the narrow middle section, with a lower end protrudingdownward past the base 4.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a modular bottle holder unit 1A that iscreated by assembling a plurality of the bottle holders 1 to a singleunit. The figure shows three bottle holders 1 assembled together, withan indication that there is a fourth bottle holder 1 at the left side ofthe illustration. The upper faces 2 and the sidewalls 3 abut each otherseamlessly, providing an orderly appearance of a multi-bottle dryingstation. It is possible to create a uniform, almost monolithicappearance of the drying station by the choice of paintwork, which canbe selected to provide a certain look that suits the individual décor.For example, the color scheme for the modular bottle holder unit 1A maybe selected to create an inconspicuous appearance, or, to the contrary,to intentionally create a contrasting color to the surroundings, or tohave the individual bottle holders 1 have different colors, to achieve arelaxed or visually appealing appearance.

It is understood that the embodiments described herein are merelyillustrative of the present invention. Variations in the construction ofthe bottle holder may be contemplated by one skilled in the art withoutlimiting the intended scope of the invention herein disclosed and asdefined by the following claims.

1: A bottle holder for holding a bottle with the mouth of the bottlefacing downward, the bottle holder comprising: an upper face having twoclosed edges and two open edges, a base, and two sidewalls that areopposite each other, each sidewall extending between a respective one ofthe two closed edges and the base, and two open sides, each open sideextending from a respective one of the two open edges and the base; anopening provided in the upper face for receiving a bottle; and a driptray that is placed on the base to collect liquid that drains from thebottle; wherein the two open edges on the upper face include a firstopen edge that has a protrusion, and a second open edge that has arecess, the projection and recess dimensioned such, that when a firstbottle holder and a second bottle holder are placed adjacent oneanother, the protrusion on the first open edge of the first bottleholder fits into the recess on the second open edge of the second twobottle holder. 2: The bottle holder of claim 1, wherein the protrusionand the recess have complementary profiles that provide a form-fit thatis gapless. 3: The bottle holder of claim 1, wherein the protrusion is aconvex curve and the recess is a concave curve, the convex curve and theconcave curve having the same radius of curvature, such that, when twobottle holders are placed adjacent one another, the fit of the theconcave curve with the convex curve is gapless. 4: The bottle holder ofclaim 1, wherein the opening for receiving a bottle in the upper face isa single opening. 5: The bottle holder of claim 1 further comprising: aconnecting element provided in a lower area of at least one of thesidewalls that serves to hold two adjacent bottle holders together. 6:The bottle holder of claim 5, wherein the connecting element includesfour connecting elements provided at each corner of a sidewall with thebase, in close proximity to an open side, and wherein the connectingelements of one bottle holder interact cooperatively with the connectingelements of an adjacent bottle holder. 7: The bottle holder of claim 5,wherein the connecting element is a magnet. 8: The bottle holder ofclaim 1, wherein the upper face, the base, and the sidewalls are formedfrom a single blank. 9: The bottle holder of claim 8, wherein the blankis made of sheet steel with an anti-corrosion coating. 10: The bottleholder of claim 1 further comprising: a protective element beneath thebase, the protective element made of a material that is softer than thatof the base. 11: The bottle holder of claim 1 further comprising: aplurality of protective elements that are formed on the drip tray andextend through openings in the base